FED:Metcash announces new director

Grocery and liquor wholesaler Metcash Ltd has announced Fiona Balfour will join the board as a director.

Ms Balfour's appointment is effective November 25, 2010.

Metcash chairman
Peter Barnes
said the company was fortunate to secure Ms Balfour's services.

"She brings to the board the skills acquired from over thirty years executive experience in the services sector, across the aviation, telecommunications, health administration, financial services and education industries," Mr Barnes said in a statement on Tuesday.

Ms Balfour worked previously as an executive adviser to Medibank Private and Link Market Services, and has served as chief information officer for both Telstra and Qantas.

She was also a member of the Qantas Executive Committee for the Qantas Group during her time with the airline.

Her appointment follows recent media attention on the lack of women in the top end of Australian companies.

A recent report from Australian Council of Superannuation Investors (ACSI) shows a third of ASX 100 companies had no female directors in 2009.